The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-14
DREAM FACES.
Why They Came to a Really Hap
py Woman.

There was not a happier woman in ali
Doltshire than Mrs. Birdy. She had, how
ever every reason to be happy. She was
young and in easy circumstances; she had
a husband who was fondly attached to her;
she had pretty, prattling daughter of
three, who was the pet and pleasure of
their home, and she had few enemies and
many friends. A v man so situated must
be of very discontinued disposition if she
be not satisfied.
Mrs. Birdy's lot had been cast in pleasant
places ever since she remembered. Though
she had never known her father or mother
they, as she had been informed, died
while she was an infant-yet she had been
brought up surrounded by more than pa
rental love and care. Her maternal uncle,
Rev. Dr. Fullalove, and his wife-childless
themselves-had taken her as their child,
and with that kindness and gentleness
which they showed in every act and
thought of their innocent lives had watched
over infancy and girlhood. They brought
her up fearing God, but without fear, low
ing her neighbors and plying the poor.
And when young Squire Birdy took Ger
trude Thresher from home where love and
duty ruled it was only to install her in
another presided over by the same house
her maidenhood so happy in her marriage.
There was only one thing that married to
any extent her otherwise perfect felicity
from the time she could first remember she
was afflicted with horrible dreams Bad
dreams, as every one knows, are common
cause of misery in early childhood, but Ger
trude's differed from those which usually
affilct young children in this respect, that
they were all the same-all mere repetitions
OF the one frightful vision. 1t was this:
Two hideous faces appeared to her, one
male, the other female. Both were con-
Vulsed with ferocious rage. They glared
Mt her in demoniacal way for moment or
two then suddenly the mans arm appeared,
and in his hand was whip raised to strike
her. As the lash fell she invariably awoke
with scream of agony and fear
When she first remembered this dream it
was of so constant recurrence that it made
sleep terror to her AS she grew older
and stronger it gradually troubled her less
After her marriage, and more especially
after the birth of her little girl, when new
duties and new affections drew away her
mind and attention from herself, it almost
ceased to annoy her. Yet still it did from
time to time return, and when it did so 1t
was in every respect the same dream as az
flicted her childhood-the same wicked
faces, the same arm raised to strike, the
same fierce lash, and the same awakening
with scream of horror.
When she was a child she often talked to
her kind old aunt, Mrs. Fullalove, about the
dream, and wondered how it happened that
she dreamed it so often. At first the wears
wife vouchsafed no explanation, but as Ger
trude grew up the old lady told her how, i'm
or rt,,.I Nt, +,s
had severe illness. 1t was during the de-
.lirium which accompanied it that she was
first heard to butter that cry for pity to which
they were now all used. Mrs. Fullalove said
that she believed Gertrude's horrible dream
was but survival, as it were, of that delu-
Sion of her illness. The more Gertrude
thought over her aunt's explanation the
more likely did it seem. Her dream GER
1ainly appeared to her more to resemble
delusion than vision.
Squire Birdy had been from home for
few days when one morning, his business
being finished, he came hurrying back to
BraxbY Grange. The moment his wife
heard the wheels of his carriage she came
running out to meet him. Before the first
embrace was over the Squire looked at Ger
trude in surprise.
''Why, Gerty, my dear" he said, "you
seem very unveils"
ION the contrary" she said, with what
he saw was an effort to be light-hearted-
son the contrary, Stephen, amvery well.n
''You don't look it, answered Stephen.
with shake of his head.
He gazed steadily at her for moment.
"Gerty," he said "you're not yourself
Now, dear, tell me what's the matter!''
Gertrude did not reply.
won't you tell me, Gertyl" he asked.
'''Do, there's a dear, good wife"
cts nothing. Stephen, l assure you" she
said; 'it's only that have been dreaming
of those horrid faces again"
"You little goose" cried her husband
gaily, playfully pinching her ear, sis that
all' You're nice girl to brighten the life
out Of us all over dream. Why don't you
get it out of your head"
II wish l could"
A'Boo-oo You're little goose"
Whether Gertrude was little goose or
not, there was no doubt that her dream had
upset her for the day. Do what she would
she could not forget it. She tried hard to
do so when her husband was with her, and
to appear gay and lively, but her efforts
were such miserable failure that she
thought it was better to keep as much out
of his company as possible. She was,
therefore, glad when he told her that he
had to go to a board meeting and would be
abGent for some few hours.